{"id":685428,"date":"2026-11-15T14:04:08","date_gmt":"2026-11-15T14:04:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/685428\/"},"modified":"2026-11-15T14:04:08","modified_gmt":"2026-11-15T14:04:08","slug":"exact-blood-pressure-reading-that-puts-you-at-risk-of-vision-loss-and","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/685428\/","title":{"rendered":"Exact blood pressure reading that puts you at risk of vision loss and"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some people are proactive about their health and want to avoid problems before they begin. But before turning to medication or supplements to lower or control blood pressure, there are a few steps you can try first – and there’s one number to watch out for on the blood pressure monitor screen.<\/a><\/p>\n

In an update from the Mayo Clinic<\/a> in July of this year, they have urged people to consider “lifestyle changes” as it plays a “big role in treating the condition<\/a>” If you do need medication<\/a>, it\u2019s important to follow your doctor\u2019s advice and take it exactly as prescribed.<\/p>\n

However, if you don\u2019t have blood pressure issues and simply want to keep your numbers in a healthy range – so they don\u2019t creep into the high blood pressure (hypertension<\/a>) category – a healthy lifestyle can help prevent problems from developing and may lower the chance you\u2019ll need medication later on.<\/p>\n

This number could put you at risk of vision loss<\/p>\n

Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to lower your risk of hypertension without medication. High blood pressure is when your readings stay persistently high, even when you\u2019re resting.<\/p>\n

The British Heart Foundation (BHF<\/a>) explains that, for most people, this occurs when your blood pressure is over 140\/95 mmHg. This is a “serious condition”, and experts warn that if you do not manage to get it under control, it could cause a number of issues, including loss of vision, kidney failure, heart failure and vascular dementia.<\/p>\n

Arteries are normally flexible, so they can cope with changes in blood pressure. However, if your blood pressure remains high over time, they can become stiff or narrowed. This can make it easier for fatty deposits to build up, raising the risk of a heart attack or stroke.<\/p>\n

Can I lower blood pressure without medication?<\/p>\n

Before jumping to ask the doctor for medication, the Mayo Clinic<\/a> has advised people to try a few changes to how they live, drink and eat, listing “10 ways to manage high blood pressure without medicine”.<\/p>\n

Do this at home -You can buy a home blood pressure monitor without a prescription at many stores. But remember that regular visits with a healthcare professional are an important part of blood pressure management.Weight and waist – We all know that avoiding alcohol and eating fruit and veg is key, but experts remind people that “weight loss in people who are overweight is the strongest lifestyle factor that can lower blood pressure.” On top of this, it stresses that “the greater the waist measurement, the greater the health risk, including high blood pressure.”Eat healthy foods – When trying to lose weight, focus on foods that provide sustained energy and the vitamins and minerals your body needs. Aim for whole grains, fruit, vegetables and low-fat dairy. Cut back on saturated and trans fats, as well as cholesterol, and prioritise nutrients such as potassium, calcium, magnesium and fibre.Goodnight – Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Talk to your doctor if you struggle to sleep, as getting fewer than 7 hours every night for weeks can affect blood pressure.Ease stress – Long-term stress may contribute to high blood pressure. While easier said than done, you could try meditation, breathing exercises, or any activity that helps you feel calm and unwind.Don’t smoke or vape – One of the best things you can do for your heart health is to stay away from tobacco or nicotine products – this includes electronic cigarettes and vaping devices. Tobacco and nicotine raise blood pressure. If you need help quitting, talk with your GP about programs or treatments that can help.Exercise regularly and stay active – Exercise can lower high blood pressure. And no, you don’t have to do a marathon. Get active in whatever way you can – if that means walking, then do it. Some is better than nothing. You should aim to get 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity or 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week. Don’t panic if you’re not able to do this; do what you can.Manage your cholesterol and blood sugar – High blood sugar and high levels of “bad” non-HDL cholesterol do not affect blood pressure directly, but they do raise the risk of heart disease. Non-HDL cholesterol is your total cholesterol minus your “good” HDL cholesterol.Less salt – Limit sodium to 2,300 milligrams (mg) a day or less. But for most adults, limiting sodium to 1,500 mg a day or less is better. Doing that may lower high blood pressure by about 5 to 6 mm Hg.Limit alcohol – Do not drink every day. The less you drink, the better. One drink equals 12 fluid ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor. You can find out more about limits via DrinkAware<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Mayo Clinic reassures anyone worried: “Making lifestyle changes takes time. Some days it might feel challenging. So ask your family or friends for support when you need it. Support can come in many ways. Friends or family may drive you to healthcare checkups or exercise with you to keep your blood pressure low.”<\/p>\n

Unhealthy habits<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to fall into unhealthy routines. It might start with not getting enough sleep, then stress at work or home makes it even harder to switch off. When you\u2019re running on empty, cooking can feel like too much effort, so you reach for less healthy options.<\/p>\n

You forget to prep lunch and end up buying processed food. Fruit and veg get pushed aside because the quickest dinner feels like the easiest choice. Over time, it all builds up. It\u2019s a very common pattern that lots of people find themselves in, so you\u2019re not alone.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re concerned about your health including blood pressure, or suspect it could be high, don\u2019t brush it off – speak to your GP or another qualified healthcare professional. Lifestyle changes can help, but they don\u2019t work for everyone, and some people will still need medication. Only a clinician can properly assess what\u2019s right for you and recommend a treatment plan tailored to your individual health needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Some people are proactive about their health and want to avoid problems before they begin. But before turning…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":685429,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[1911,2926,103,397,396,61,60,7833,37782,54581,2114],"class_list":["post-685428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-healthcare","tag-blood-pressure","tag-dementia","tag-health","tag-health-care","tag-healthcare","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-lifestyle-changes","tag-vision","tag-vision-loss","tag-weight-loss"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/685428","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=685428"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/685428\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/685429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=685428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=685428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=685428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}